Even if the Chargers need a Lake Placid moment to reach the postseason, they insist there’s much to be gained in the final four games, starting with Sunday’s contest in Pittsburgh (10 a.m., CBS).

A season that began with great promise, with the Chargers opening 3-1 and alone in first place in the AFC West, has deteriorated to 4-8 and out of the playoff hunt.

But don’t expect the Bolts to lay down for the 7-5 Steelers.

“Every time you get a chance to line up, compete and play, you are going to get something out of it,” Chargers coach Norv Turner said.

Exactly what each Charger can get out of this game, as well as the final three games against the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders respectively, varies from player to player.

The group that can probably gain the most are the young players. Turner mentioned Shareece Wright as a “great example” of a young guy who could get valuable playing time during closing stretch.

The second-year player, who lost seven games after injuring his ankle on the season’s first play, is a backup to Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason, who are eligible for free agency in the offseason.

“Everyone is asking for Shareece, and he is getting an opportunity to play,” Turner said. “He has shown he has got some upside, and he has a lot of work to do to be a good player.”

Turner, who is assured $3 million next year even if Dean Spanos, as expected, fires him after the season, said he got to Chargers Park at 5:30 a.m. this week to prepare for the Steelers. He insists that both older and younger players have reason to be excited about the next four games.

Veteran tight end Antonio Gates agrees, reminding fans that the players are paid to give their best effort.

“People talk about how we should just play a bunch of young players in these last games,” he said. “What people need to realize is, these are our jobs, and anything can happen to our jobs. I’m not naïve about this business.”

Gates is under contract next year, but he said he needs to show the Chargers — not to mention other NFL teams — that he deserves to have a job next year.

“You can’t take anything for granted,” he said.

One backup who won’t play against the Steelers, barring injury, is quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.

Whitehurst may not take a snap all year, judging by how Philip Rivers reacted on Wednesday when asked if maybe, just maybe, Turner should sit him for safety’s sake, given the frailty of the offensive line and the long odds of reaching the playoffs.

“They’re kicking it off on Sunday,” Rivers said. “Last I heard, they’re playing and it counts.”

Leaving the concession speeches to others, Rivers pointed out that the Chargers (4-8) are still alive, mathematically, in the wild-card race and recalled that in 2008 the team reached the playoffs despite a 4-8 start. Lowering his sights, he said he has never experienced a losing season since joining the Chargers in 2004 (and before then, ever).

“We’re trying to win a game,’ Rivers said, “and it would be big at this point in the year to go and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. It would mean something. That’s what our effort is going toward right now.”

Peppy comments, of course, are far less taxing than an actual NFL game -- but Eric Weddle, as with Rivers and Gates, offers a sturdy career track record of performance, not just a peppy sound track.

“Each week I’m out to prove that I’m one of the best players in this league,” the safety said. “I’m striving to be the best and help my team. There is no quitting with this team and coaching staff. We will play out this season and deal with next year when that time comes.”